System and method for multiple screen electronic presentations

ABSTRACT

An electronic presentation system and method provides multiple display screens for presentation materials as well as permits dynamic annotations to presentation materials that do not permanently alter the presentation materials. The presentation materials can easily be directed to any one of the display screens and any annotations can be saved for future use or simply deleted.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application relates to and claims priority from U.S. ProvisionalApplication Ser. No. 60/293,179 filed May 25, 2001 entitled ELECTRONICINSTRUCTIONAL DELIVERY SYSTEM AND METHOD the disclosure of which ishereby incorporated in its entirety by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to group presentations systems and methodsand, more particularly, to an electronic presentation system and methodhaving multiple screens.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

One traditional method for making presentations to relatively smallgroups, such as in an educational or training environment, includes theuse of an overhead projector and view foils or transparencies. Accordingto this familiar method, the presenter has a series of view foils thatare manually placed on, and then removed from, an overhead projector ina predetermined order. While blank view foils are sometimes inserted toallow the presenter to dynamically present material during thepresentation, the presenter is unlikely to annotate a previouslyprepared view foil as such an annotation would likely ruin the foil forfuture use.

Recent advances in automation have addressed some of the shortcomings ofthis traditional presentation method. In one instance, a computer'svideo output can now be connected to a projector so that a computergenerated slide show can be shown on a screen; sometimes with animation.However, this introduction of automation does not change the limited andstatic nature of the presentation materials and methods.

Accordingly, there remains a need for a dynamic presentation system andmethod that allows a presenter to effectively and dynamically presentmaterial that can easily be modified and augmented according to eachenvironment in which the presentation is made.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention addresses these and other needs with a system andmethod that provides multiple display screens for presentation materialsas well as permitting dynamic annotations to presentation materials thatdo not permanently alter the presentation materials. The presentationmaterials can easily be directed to any one of the display screens andany annotations can be saved for future use or simply deleted.

One aspect of the present invention relates to a system for providingelectronic presentations in which the system includes, for example, aplurality of presentation slides stored in a first memory accessible bya programmable computer; a first display screen coupled with theprogrammable computer and having a first video input signal; a seconddisplay screen coupled with the programmable computer and having asecond video input signal; and a third display screen coupled with theprogrammable computer and having a third video input signal. Thepresentation system also includes a presentation control softwareapplication that is stored in a second memory accessible by theprogrammable computer wherein the programmable computer is configured toexecute the presentation control application to provide an interface,displayed on the third display screen, by which each of the plurality ofslides is dispatched for display to either one of the first or seconddisplay screens.

Another aspect of the present invention relates to a softwareapplication and method for providing an electronic presentation of aplurality of slides using multiple display screens that provides apresentation control interface on a center display screen; displays aslide, from among the plurality of slides, in a preview window withinthe presentation control interface; receives input via the presentationcontrol interface indicating whether to direct the slide to a rightdisplay screen or a left display screen; dispatches the slide fordisplay on the indicated display screen; and retrieves a next slide fordisplay in the preview window.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention is illustrated by way of example and not by way oflimitation, in the figures of the accompanying drawings and in whichlike reference numeral refer to similar elements and in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary presentation system according to anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary presentation system according to anotherembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 illustrates additional connections useful in the presentationsystem according to the embodiment of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 illustrates rear panel connectors of an exemplary computeraccording to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 depicts a logical flowchart of an exemplary presentation methodaccording to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 illustrates an exemplary screenshot of a presentation applicationinterface according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 illustrates an exemplary toolbar of an annotation application fortouch-screen monitors according to an embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 8 illustrates an exemplary remote control according to anembodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerousspecific details are set forth in order to provide a thoroughunderstanding of the present invention. It will be apparent, however, toone schooled in the art that the present invention may be practicedwithout these specific details. In other instances, well knownstructures and devices are shown in block diagram form in order to avoidunnecessarily obscuring the present invention.

Various embodiments of the present invention are presented and discussedbelow. In particular, many embodiments are described in reference to thespecific environment of instructional or training presentations. Thisspecific environment is helpful in describing many of the aspects of thepresent invention. However, the present invention is not limited to onlythis specific environment; but, rather, contemplates within its scopeother presentation environments in which multiple screens and dynamicannotation capability are beneficial.

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary presentation system 100 according to oneembodiment of the present invention. According to this embodiment, acomputer system 106 controls the data flows and presentation materialsused by the other components. In particular, the computer 106 provides agraphical interface 122 on the monitor 104 to assist the presenter incontrolling a presentation. The video data displayed on the interfacemonitor 104 is provided by video output 116 b of the computer 106.Although not shown in its entirety, computer system 106 is aconventional system in that it comprises a keyboard, mass storagedevices, network, parallel and serial interfaces as well as the manyother peripherals and components known to be a part of a typicalcomputer system.

The computer system 106 also includes separate video outputs 116 a, 116c that, respectively, provide video output to left-hand projector 114 aand right-hand projector 114 b. The video output can be SVGA formattedvideo signals as well as other conventional video formats. Within thepresent description, the left/right hand convention is from theperspective of the presenter. The video data that is output over each ofthe video outputs 116 a, 116 c is determined by the presenter using theinterface 122. Using the interface 122, the presenter retrievespresentation material from storage (not shown) accessible by thecomputer system 106 and then directs that material to one, or both, ofthe video outputs 116 a, 116 c. The projectors 114 a, 114 b then displaythe respective presentation materials on a respective screen 102 a, 102b.

The video outputs 116 a, 116 c, in addition to being directed toprojectors 114 a, 114 b, also are directed via respective paths 118 a,118 b to touch-screen monitors 110 a, 110 b. In practice, the monitors110 a, 110 b would be located near the presenter while the screens 102a, 102 b would be located for convenient viewing by an audiencereceiving the presentation. Each of the touch-screen monitors 110 a, 110b are connected to the computer system 106. In FIG. 1, these connections120 a, 120 b are depicted as serial connections but other functionallyequivalent feedback connection paths are contemplated by the presentinvention as well. These connection paths can be other types ofinput/output protocols and hardware and are not limited to RS-232 serialcommunication paths. The connections 120 a, 120 b are used to providefeedback from a respective touch-screen monitor 110 a, 110 b thatindicates any tactile interaction that may be taking place with themonitors 110 a, 110 b. While FIG. 1 depicts an exemplary stylus 112 a,112 b for each monitor 110 a, 110 b, tactile interaction with themonitors 110 a, 110 b can occur using the same stylus or even no stylusat all.

The interface 122 can be controlled using a keyboard, mouse or otherinput device connected to the computer 106. However, to provide thepresenter some flexibility in movement and location around a room, aremote control device 108 is also connected 120 c to the computer system106 to control the interface 122 as well. This remote control device 108could include a transmitter (and receiver on the computer 106) thatutilize USB, FireWire, IrDA, serial or many other types of input/outputconventions to connect with the computer 106. Additionally, the displaydevice 104 can also be a touch-screen device that allows the presenterto control the presentation using tactile initiated commands and such adevice will needs its own feedback path 124.

Within the exemplary presentation system 100 of FIG. 1, the computersystem 106 controls the operation of the presentation by concurrentlyexecuting: a) a presentation interface 122 that is used to retrieve anddirect (or dispatch) presentation materials to one of two video outputs116 a, 116 c; b) an annotation tool for the left-hand screen 102 a thatreceives tactile feedback from a touch-screen monitor 110 a and adjuststhe video output 116 a accordingly; and c) an annotation tool for theright-hand screen 102 b that receives tactile feedback from atouch-screen monitor 110 b and adjusts the video output 116 caccordingly.

Within the embodiment just described, as well as other embodimentsdescribed herein, the exemplary components are not intended to limit thescope of the present invention. For example, the touch-screen monitors110 a, 110 b can include LCD display panels or other types of displays;and the computer 106 does not necessarily have to be physically locatedwith the other components but can be connected through network or otherlonger-range cabling techniques to the various other components of thepresentation system 100.

FIG. 2 illustrates another exemplary presentation system 200 accordingto another, more preferred, embodiment of the present invention. Thesystem 200 utilizes many conventional components to achieve theinventive presentation systems and methods described below. For example,video switch 240 can be a conventional, controllable 4×4 video switchthat includes its own driver software and application programminginterface (API) routines for easy integration. Similarly, the monitors212, 238, 234 can be conventional touch-screen monitors that includetheir own driver software and calibration routines that easily integratewith other components of the system 200. Modem operating systems, suchas the one executing on computer 204 typically allow defining ofmultiple video displays so that no modification of the operating systemis needed to support operation and interaction of multiple video cardswithin the computer 204.

Within this embodiment, as compared to system 100, additional videodisplays are possible and a video switch 240 is used to provideadditional functionality. However, as many aspects of the system 200 aresimilar to those of the system 100 of FIG. 1, detailed explanation ofsome features are not repeated when describing FIG. 2.

The system 200 includes a computer 204 used by a presenter to provide amulti-screen presentation to an audience using left 232 and right 236projectors. The presenter has available three monitors: left screenmonitor 234 which shows the material being presented from the leftprojector 232, right screen monitor 238 which shows the material beingpresented from the right projector 236, and the center monitor 212 whichprovides a graphical user interface to the presentation softwareapplication running on the computer 204.

In the exemplary system 200, there is also a demonstration computer 216,demonstration monitor 202, and a video splitter 214. The video splitter214 provides the video output 218 from the demonstration computer 216 toboth the demonstration monitor 202 and the video switch 240. Thedemonstration computer 216 is typically under the control of thepresenter and can be used to create simulations and other demonstrationsthat further augment or explain the presentation materials being viewedby an audience. Consequently, the graphical user interface also allowsthe presenter to direct the video output of the demonstration computer216 to one of the projectors 232, 236 so that the audience has thebenefit of the simulations and demonstrations.

The video switch 240 is a conventional video switch as is known to oneof ordinary skill and is controllable to direct a data signal receivedat one of its inputs to one or more of its data outputs. As shown, thevideo switch 240 receives at least three video signals: a) 208 (from thecomputer 204); b) 210 (from the computer 204); and c) 220 (from thedemonstration computer 216 via the video splitter 214). Depending on thesettings of the video switch 240, these various input signals are thendirected to one or more of the following outputs: a) 224 (the leftprojector 232); b) 226 (the left monitor 234); c) 228 (the rightprojector 236); and d) 230 (the right monitor 238).

Similar to the system 100 described before, the system 200 of FIG. 2provides a presentation system that allows a presenter to use graphicaluser interface that executes on computer 204 and displays on centermonitor 212. This user interface permits the presenter to retrievepresentation materials, preview them on the center monitor 212 and thendispatch the materials to either the left projector 232, the rightprojector 236, or both. To accomplish the control of what is presentedto the audience, the presenter uses the interface to send materials outone of two video outputs 208, 210 and to configure the video switch 240to direct its different video inputs to appropriate video outputs.

As shown in FIG. 3, the serial path 310 is one exemplary method for thecomputer 204 to selectably configure the video switch 240. Inparticular, using the communications link 310 the presenter interactswith the presentation system software to send a command from thecomputer 204 to the video switch 240. Based on this command, the videoswitch 240 controls the coupling between video inputs and outputs.

The right monitor 238, left monitor 234, and the center monitor 212 in apreferred embodiment are all touch-screen monitors. In addition, thecomputer 204 is executing three instances of an annotation tool (e.g., asoftware application) wherein each instance of the annotation toolallows modification or augmentation of the video data displayed on arespective one of the monitors 212, 234, 238. This augmented video datais overlaid onto any presentation slides that are currently beingdisplayed. As shown in FIG. 3, these monitors are connected torespective inputs of the computer 204. The exemplary feedback paths304–308 of FIG. 3 are shown as serial communication paths that provideresponses to the computer 204 that are dependent on tactile interactionwith a respective touch-screen monitor. The feedback data is routed tothe appropriate instance of the annotation tools in order toappropriately adjust the video data displayed on the appropriatemonitor.

In operation, the presenter will touch one, for example, right monitor238 which brings the “focus” of the operating system to the instance ofthe annotation tool associated with the right monitor 238. Using theannotation tool and the touch screen monitor 238 (along with its driversoftware), the presenter is able to draw such things as text, boxes,free-hand diagrams and other annotations that can be overlaid onto thevideo data that is being output by the computer 204 for display on theright presentation screen. Accordingly, the audience has the benefit ofstatic presentation material that can be easily augmented in real-timein response to the individual needs of that particular audience.

FIG. 4 displays an exemplary view of a computer 204. As shown, thiscomputer can include multiple video output ports 410–414 as well asmultiple input/output ports 402–408. The present invention is notlimited to the specific computer arrangement and port types of FIG. 4;but, rather, contemplates alternative, functionally equivalentarrangements as well.

FIG. 5 depicts a high-level logical flowchart of an exemplarypresentation method according to an embodiment of the present invention.According to this flowchart, the presenter can utilize a system such asthat depicted in FIG. 2 to provide effective and dynamic multiple-screenpresentations to an audience. The method can be embodied as one or moresoftware applications that can run on one or more computers that whenexecuted perform the presentation method as herein described.

In step 502, a list of available presentations are presented to apresenter to allow the presenter to make a selection. Once apresentation file is selected, the method continues, in step 504, byproviding a list of the slides which comprise the selected presentation.The first slide among the slides is automatically presented in a previewwindow, in step 506, so that the presenter can see what the next slideis and decide how it can best be displayed. At this point, the presentermight determine that the slide should be annotated, in step 508, beforebeing displayed.

Next, in step 510, the method determines which of many possiblealternatives the presenter selects for the display of the preview slide.For example, the presenter might select, in step 514, to send thepreview slide to the left screen or, in step 516 to send the previewslide to the right screen. Alternatively, the method can include aautomatic dispatch feature that refers to a preference file todetermine, in step 518, which screen to automatically forward thepreview slide to. Other display options can be selected in step 519,these options can include such things as blanking the left or rightscreen, going back one slide in the presentation, skipping the currentpreview slide without displaying it, jumping to a slide out of order,jumping to a slide from another presentation file, or sending a blanktemplate to one of the display screens. The presenter can also select,in step 512, to display the output of a demonstration computer on eitherthe left screen (step 522) or the right screen (step 524). The presentercan also elect, in step 520, to annotate the slide that is displayed oneither the left screen (in step 526) or the right screen (in step 528).By annotating a slide, the presenter is able to interactively augmentthe presentation in a customized manner appropriate for the audience athand. As the annotations may be useful in later slide presentations andin order to preserve annotations to more than one displayed slide, step530 of the method saves any annotations for future use. Based on thepresenter's selection for displaying, or annotating a presentationslide, step 532 results in the next slide being retrieved and displayedin the preview window. Step 534 represents that the method then repeatsitself from step 510 until the last slide of the presentation file isdisplayed. The details of this method are presented below in relation toa specific interface and software application for controlling a slidepresentation.

FIG. 6 shows an exemplary screen shot 600 of the presentation softwareapplication that executes on the computer 204 that allows the presenterto control the presentation made to an audience. Graphical userinterface components such as drop-down menus, selection boxes, icons,display windows, toolbars and manipulations thereof are well known inthe art and will not be described in great detail.

The foundation for a presentation can consist of, for example, a numberof PowerPoint slides arranged together in what can be referred to as apresentation file. Other slide formats are also contemplated within thepresent invention. The PowerPoint files, or slide shows, and theirindividual frames, can be stored on the hard disk drive of the computer204. For example, the presentation software can be set to look for apresentation files in a default directory such as “D:\courses”. Withinthat directory, would be a number of different presentation files thatthe presentation software automatically scans and displays to thepresenter for selection thereof.

In one embodiment, the presentation system also permits user-definedpreference data to be associated with any one of the presentation files.This preference data can take the form of preference files using apredetermined extension (e.g., “.ipf”) so that the presentation softwarecan easily associate a preference file with its similarly namedpresentation file. In a preferred embodiment, the preference file cancontain a number of entries having three fields:

-   -   <Slide Number>, <Direction Tag>, <Memory Jogger Text>

Thus, a preference file could resemble:

-   -   14, R, Mention all three aspects    -   2, L,    -   . . .    -   16, R, Tell joke about the three programmers

As shown, there is no need for the slide numbers to be in numericalorder although following such a convention may prove helpful undercertain circumstances. Furthermore, there is no requirement that eachslide have an entry nor that each entry have data in every field.

Alternatively, the preference information can be included in slides ofthe presentation file itself. Using the “notes” section of a PowerPointslide, or similar features for other presentation file formats, thepreference information does not need to be stored in a separatepreference file but can be included within the presentation file.

The presentation software interface provides a drop-down box 616 thatassists the presenter in selecting a presentation. In FIG. 6, forexample, the presenter has selected a file named “503-CH00US” which, inone embodiment, can be meaningful and indicate that the presentationpertains to chapter 00 of lesson 503. On the hard drive this file couldbe stored as a PowerPoint file “503-Ch00US.ppt”. In a preferredembodiment, the first slide of a selected presentation is automaticallydisplayed in the preview window 602.

The window 612 shows the 13 slides within the selected presentation fileand their respective titles. One slide title 614 is shown as selected(as indicated by the reverse video) and this slide 604 is displayed inthe preview window 602. From this window 602 the presenter can direct(or dispatch) the slide 604 to one of the video outputs of the computer204.

The monitor on which the screen 600 is displayed can be a touch-screenmonitor 212 but the presenter can also interact with the presentationsoftware's interface using a keyboard or mouse in addition to tactileinput.

There are three icons in screen 600 that determine the destination ofthe preview slide 604. The term “destination” refers to which videooutput of computer 204 is the slide sent to so that it is displayed oneither the left or the right screen. According to one embodiment, theset-up and cable connections of the video switch is configured in apredetermined manner such as that shown in FIG. 2. The presentationsoftware knows of this predetermined configuration and is itselfconfigured to provide slide to the appropriate video output based onwhich icon is selected by the presenter. The specific cablingconnections can be different than that shown in FIG. 2 as long as thepresentation software is configured to direct video output accordingly.

The icon 620 causes the presentation software to send the preview slide604 to the left screen, while the icon 644 causes the presentationsoftware to send the preview slide 604 to the right screen. If thepreview slide 604 has a direction preference specified in an associatedpreferences file, then the icon 632 becomes active and, by selectingthat icon 632, the presenter can send the slide to the preferred screenbased on the direction preference found in the preference file. Once thepreview slide 604 is sent to its appropriate screen for display, thepresentation software automatically displays the next slide in thesequence of slides within the window 602. The preference tag can beoverridden by using either icon 620 or 644 instead of the automatic icon632. The window 618 is used for displaying any memory jogger text fromthe preference file to assist the presenter with the presentation.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, a slide's entry inthe preference file can have a direction entry such as “LR”. This doubleentry will have the effect of automatically displaying the one slide onthe left screen and then displaying the next slide on the right screenso that both slides appear to be displayed substantially simultaneously.As a result, the eventual new preview slide is two removed from theinitial preview slide.

Slides can be selected out of sequence from the display window 612 andthen displayed in the preview window 602.

The interface screen 600 also provides a “go-back” icon 630 and a“go-forward” icon 634. These icon 630 allows the presenter to proceed ina reverse direction in the preview window 602 and the icon 634 allowsthe current preview slide 604 to be skipped and the next slide in thepresentation to be displayed in the preview window 602.

The icons 626 and 638, respectively, provide a left screen and rightscreen “slide jog” feature that allows a slide to appear to be slid upthe display screen. This activity mimics the traditional action of apresenter that slides a view foil up on the projector so that the bottomhalf of the foil is emphasized. These icons act as toggles such thatsuccessive selection of the icon flips between normal presentation of aslide and “jogged” presentation of the slide.

In order to focus students on one screen or the other, and foradditional reasons within a presentation, the presentation softwareinterface provides icon 624 to blank the left display and icon 640 toblank the right display. Selecting either of these icons again willresult in the appropriate display being “unblanked”.

As shown in the environment of FIG. 2, the video output from thedemonstration computer 216 is provided to the video switch 240. Thepresentation software can effect the display of this video output to oneof the display projectors 232, 236 by appropriate control of the videoswitch 240 via the communications link 310. When the presenter wants todirect the output from the demonstration computer 216 to the leftprojector, the icon 628 is selected. This selection causes thepresentation software to control the video switch 240 to display thevideo signal 218 on the left screen. Similar functionality with theright projector 236 is accomplished using the icon 636. A secondselection of either of the icons 628, 636 will restore the displayedslides to the respective screen instead of the output from thedemonstration computer 216. A second demonstration computer can beincluded that takes advantage of the unused fourth input of video switch240. In such an alternative, manual control of the video switch 240 canprove useful in selecting appropriate video signal routing.

Using the buttons 650, 652, respectively, the current slide displayed onthe left or right display screen can be added to a “favorites” listdisplayed in window 610. This list can be named something meaningfulsuch as “favorites.fvt” and located in the default directory“D:\courses”. Other file names and locations could also be used.

In a preferred embodiment, the format of the file is:

-   -   <Presentation File>, <Slide Number>: <Descriptive Text>        Accordingly, one entry may resemble:    -   409-Ch05, 14: Free Threading        which refers to the fourteenth slide of the presentation file        409-Ch05.ppt (for example, if PowerPoint slides are being used).        The descriptive text can be any text, but the slide title is one        useful example.

By selecting either of buttons 650 or 652, a new entry is appended to,or otherwise inserted into, the favorites file. In a preferredembodiment, this file is useful among different presentation files andis not specific to a particular presentation file. The presenter selectsa slide from the window 610 similar to the manner in which a slide isselected from the window 612. One difference, is that the presentationsoftware must open the referenced presentation file, extract theappropriate slide and display that in the preview window 602. The slidecan then be dispatched to the left or right screen using the icons 620and 644 respectively. Once the slide is dispatched, the presentationreverts back to the slide location within the original presentation filein order to select the next slide to place in the preview window 602.

The presentation software cooperates with three different instances of aslide annotation application (i.e., an annotation tool). The slideannotation tool can be a vector-based drawing tool that generatesgraphics that can be overlaid onto a presentation slide. Each of theseinstances of the annotation tool correspond to a different one of themonitors 212, 234, 238. The execution of an annotation tool instanceresults in an annotation toolbar being displayed on each of thedifferent monitors 212, 234, 238. The annotation toolbar 608 associatedwith the annotation tool for the center monitor 212 is depicted at thebottom of the preview window 602. Using this toolbar, the presenter canannotate the slide 604 before it is dispatched to either the left orright display screens. Each of the left and right monitors 234 and 238have their own associated annotation tools and similar toolbars.

The clock icon 606 opens a timer window that allows a presenter toselect a time period and display a countdown screen that indicatesremaining time within that period. This time period can reflect the timeleft to complete an exercise or the time left until the next break inthe presentation.

FIG. 7 depicts an exemplary annotation toll toolbar such as that shownin FIG. 6. The different functions of the toolbar are selected bytapping or selecting the appropriate icon. From left to right, the iconsinclude:

702: A hide/unhide button that expands or contracts the display of thetoolbar.

704: A text function that is used by tapping on the presentation slidewhere text should appear and then using the keyboard (of the computer204) to enter text.

706: A free-hand drawing tool that allows drawing on the slide,preferably using a stylus or other similar implement.

708: A rectangle draw function that allows selecting a starting cornerand dragging to an ending corner to define a rectangle.

710: An ellipse draw function similar to the rectangle function but anellipse is drawn in the defined “boundary” box.

In a preferred embodiment, both the rectangle and ellipse toolsautomatically activate a text entry function so that the created shapecan have text entered without requiring the selection of any additionalicons.

712: A straight line draw function that is used by selecting thestarting and ending points of the line.

714: A “callout” function that creates a text entry box that resembles acomic strip dialogue balloon.

716: A highlighter tool that creates a rectangle of the screen that ishighlighted in transparent yellow.

718: A pointer tool that allows an indicator to be displayed on thepresentation slide at a desired location. In a preferred embodiment, theindicator is a bright red arrow. This arrow will move to any location onthe presentation slide that is tapped by the presenter.

720: A progressive revelation function that covers portions of thepresentation slide to prevent its display. The first tap on the screensets the starting vertical location and each successive tap repositionsthe overlay to display more and more of the presentation slide.

722: An eraser tool that erases any annotations on a presentation slide.

724: An undo function that removes each annotation in a reverse order.

726: A color selection tool that selects from among different colors thecolor for future annotation operations.

Annotations can be taking place on the left, right and center monitorsin any particular order; therefore, in a preferred embodiment,annotations are saved every time a presenter navigates away from apresentation slide. For example, slide 14 can be displayed on the leftmonitor 234 and be annotated while slide 13 is displayed on the rightmonitor 238. If the presenter touches the right monitor 238, then theoperating system of computer 204 detects that focus has now shifted tothe right monitor 238 and any further input will be interpreted by theannotation tool associated with that monitor 238. The presentationsoftware also saves any current annotations for slide 14 beforeproceeding. If the presenter then navigates back to slide 14, thecurrent annotations for slide 13 are saved and further input isinterpreted by the annotation tool associated with the left monitor 234.

In a preferred embodiment, the vector graphics files created by eachannotation tool are stored in the “D:\courses” directory. For example,as annotations are made to the slides within presentation file409-Ch05.ppt, a directory 409-Ch05.ann can be created and populated witha files “xxx” wherein the “xxx” refers to the slide within thatpresentation file.

When the presentation software presents a slide in the preview window602 it can automatically search for the existence of any annotationfiles and automatically augment the slide accordingly. As a result,annotation files can be saved and moved to another computer to augment apresentation from that computer while still utilizing the presentationslides that reside on the second computer. Also, the re-display of anannotated slide is not dependent on the display screen on which theslide was originally annotated. For example, a slide displayed andannotated while on the right display screen can be later recalled fordisplay and dispatched to the left display screen and any previousannotations will be displayed on the left display screen without anyneed for modification.

Returning briefly to the interface screen 600 of FIG. 6, there are twocomplementary icons 622 and 642. These icons, respectively, start ablank slide on the left and right display screens. This blank slide canthen be annotated as desired. In a preferred embodiment, a dialog boxappears that asks for a name for the blank slide and can provide asuggested default name as well. If the newly named slide is not saved asa favorite, then it will be deleted upon ending the currentpresentation. If it is saved, then it will be available for recalllater. In a similar manner, individual slides may be created and copiedinto the “D:\courses” directory and manually added to the favoritesfile. In this manner, additional, extrinsic slides which augment apresentation file can easily be made avaialbe for selection and displayduring a pre-scripted presentation.

The presentation system is not limited to presenting viewable contentfrom only a single document file format. The presentation system, forexample, can work with two or more different document file formats suchas PowerPoint presentations and Adobe Acrobat PDF files. In a preferredembodiment, the PowerPoint presentations are used to deliver screens ofinformation in landscape layout, while Acrobat files display informationfrom portrait layout paginated documents.

According to this embodiment, both the PowerPoint and Acrobatpresentations can be treated in exactly the same way by the presentationsystem, including the incorporation of any annotation files associatedwith each screen of the document being displayed. Because of the aspectratio difference between landscape and portrait documents, there may beinstances in which only two-thirds of a portrait-mode page (e.g., anAcrobat page) is displayed on each screen and projector. The ‘nudge up’buttons 626, 638 on the interface 600 is used to make the lowertwo-thirds of an Acrobat page visible.

The functionality and benefits of the “favorites” mechanism remain thesame for either PowerPoint or Acrobat pages as both formats can be savedand then recalled for display on any display screen 212, 234, 238.

An exemplary remote control 108 of FIG. 1 is shown in more detail inFIG. 8 as element 800. For example, the remote control 800 can connectto the computer 204 using an input/output port that is not being used byanother component of the system 200. The remote control does not need tohave the entire tool suite that is shown in FIG. 6 but rather caninclude a button 802 for automatically advancing a slide; a button 804for skipping the current preview slide; a button 806 for sending thepreview slide to the right screen; a button 808 for blanking/unblankingthe right screen; a button 810 for blanking/unblanking the left screen;and a button 812 for sending the preview slide to the left screen.

While particular embodiments of the present invention have beendisclosed, it is to be understood that various different modificationsare possible and are contemplated within the true spirit and scope ofthe appended claims. There is no intention, therefore, of limitations tothe exact abstract or disclosure herein presented.

1. A system providing electronic presentations comprising: a pluralityof presentation slides stored in a first memory accessible by aprogrammable computer; a first display screen coupled with theprogrammable computer and having a first video input signal; a seconddisplay screen coupled with the programmable computer and having asecond video input signals, said second video input signal differentthan said first video input signal; a third display screen coupled withthe programmable computer and having a third video input signal, saidthird video input signal different than said first and second videoinput signals; a presentation control application stored in a secondmemory accessible by the programmable computer; and the programmablecomputer being configured to execute the presentation controlapplication to provide an interface, displayed on the third displayscreen, by which each of the plurality of slides is dispatched fordisplay to either one of the first or second display screens.
 2. Thesystem according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of slides arearranged in a presentation file.
 3. The system according to claim 2,further comprising: a plurality of presentation files stored in thefirst memory; and wherein the presentation control application isfurther configured to: display a list of the plurality of presentationfiles via the interface, and select one presentation tile based on inputreceived via the interface.
 4. The system according to claim 3, whereinthe presentation control interface is configured to present a list ofpresentation slides within the one presentation file via the interfaceand select a slide to dispatch based on input received via theinterface.
 5. The system according to claim 3, further comprising: alist of extrinsic slides not included within the presentation file; andwherein the presentation control application is further configured to:display a list of the extrinsic slides via the interface, and select oneextrinsic slide, for display on either the first or second displayscreens, based on input received via the interface.
 6. The systemaccording to claim 2, further comprising a preference data associatedwith the presentation file, said preference data stored in the firstmemory and including one or more entries, each entry associated with aslide of the presentation tile; and wherein said presentation controlapplication is configured to automatically dispatch a particular slideto either the first or second display screen based on an entry in thepreference data corresponding to that particular slide.
 7. The systemaccording to claim 6, wherein the preference data comprises a preferencefile separate from the presentation file.
 8. The system according toclaim 6, wherein the preference data is included in the presentationfile.
 9. The system according to claim 6, wherein after dispatching theparticular slide, the presentation control application retrieves a nextslide in the presentation file.
 10. The system according to claim 6,wherein: one or more of the entries in the preference data include amemory jogger text; and wherein said presentation control application isconfigured to automatically display the memory jogger text within theinterface when the particular slide is displayed on the third displayscreen.
 11. The system according to claim 1, further comprising: a videoswitch having a plurality of inputs coupled with said programmablecomputer and a plurality of outputs coupled with said first and seconddisplay screens, said video switch configurable to selectably couple anyof its inputs to any of its outputs.
 12. The system according to claim11, further comprising: a demonstration computer providing demonstrationvideo output coupled with a particular one input of the video switchwherein the presentation control application is configured to direct thedemonstration video output to either of the first or second displayscreens.
 13. The system according to claim 1, wherein the programmablecomputer comprises a first, second and third video output correspondingto the first second and third display screens, respectively.
 14. Thesystem according to claim 13, wherein the presentation controlapplication controls the dispatch of each slide to either the first orsecond display screen by directing the slide to the first or secondvideo output, respectively.
 15. The system according to claim 1, whereinthe interface includes a preview window for displaying a next slide fordispatch, wherein the presentation control application is configured toretrieve the next slide for display via the preview window when aprevious slide is dispatched to either the first or second displayscreen.
 16. The system according to claim 1, wherein: the first displayscreen comprises a first touch-screen device and a first projector; andthe second display screen comprises a second touch-screen device and asecond projector.
 17. The system according to claim 16, wherein thethird display screen is a touch-screen device.
 18. The system accordingto claim 17, further comprising: a respective slide annotationapplication associated with each of the first, second and third displayscreens, said slide annotation applications executing on theprogrammable computer an interfacing with the presentation controlapplication.
 19. The system according to claim 18, wherein the first,second and third display screens are configured to respectively providetactile feedback information to the associated slide annotationapplications and wherein the presentation control application isconfigured to modify one or more of the first second or third videoinput signals based on the respective tactile feedback information. 20.The system according to claim 19, wherein each slide annotationapplication is configured to store in the first memory a respectiveannotation history file based on the respective tactile feedbackinformation.
 21. The system according to claim 20, wherein thepresentation control application is configured to retrieve anyannotation history tile associated with a particular slide dispatchedfor display and display of that particular slide on any of the firstsecond or third display screens is modified according to the annotationhistory file without depending on which slide annotation applicationstored the annotation history file.
 22. A method for providing anelectronic presentation of a plurality of slides using multiple displayscreens, comprising the steps of: providing a presentation controlinterface on a first display screen; displaying a slide, from among theplurality of slides, in a preview window within the presentation controlinterface; receiving input via the presentation control interfaceindicating whether to direct the slide to a second display screen or athird display screen such that said first and second display screensdiffer from each other as well as differ from said first display screen;dispatching the slide for display on the indicated display screen; andretrieving a next slide for display in the preview window.
 23. Themethod according to claim 22, further comprising the steps of retrievinga first list of presentation files, each said presentation filecomprising a respective plurality of slides; displaying on the firstscreen the first list via the presentation control interface; andselecting one of the presentation files, for the electronicpresentation, based on input received in response to the display of thefirst list.
 24. The method according to claim 23, further comprising thesteps of: displaying on the first screen a second list of the respectiveplurality of slides via the presentation control interface; andselecting the slide for display in the preview window based on inputreceived in response to displaying the second list.
 25. The methodaccording to claim 23, further comprising the steps of: retrievingpreference data associated with the one presentation file; determiningif the received input indicates automatic dispatch of the slide; andreferring to an entry in the preference data to determine which displayscreen to dispatch the slide to.
 26. The method according to claim 22further comprising the step of: receiving other input via thepresentation control interface, wherein the other input indicates one ofblanking the left screen, blanking the right screen, unblanking thethird screen, unblanking the second screen, backing-Lip one slide in thepreview window, skipping the slide in the preview window.
 27. The methodaccording to claim 26, wherein the preference data includes memoryjogger text and the step of displaying a slide includes the step of:displaying on the center screen the memory jogger text.
 28. The methodaccording to claim 22, further comprising the steps of: directing videooutput from a demonstration computer to either one of the second orthird screens in place of a presentation slide.
 29. The method accordingto claim 28, wherein the step of directing includes the step ofselectably controlling a video switch which includes one input coupledwith the demonstration computer and respective outputs coupled with thesecond and third screens.
 30. The method according to claim 22, whereinthe step of dispatching a slide further includes the steps of:outputting the slide as second side video data if the slide is directedto the second display screen; and outputting the slide as third sidevideo data if the slide is directed to the third display screen.
 31. Themethod according to claim 30, further comprising the steps of: providinga second annotation application associated with the second displayscreen which is a touch screen device; providing a third annotationapplication associated with the third display screen which is a touchscreen device; and providing a first annotation application associatedwith the first display screen which is a touch screen device.
 32. Themethod according to claim 31, wherein: the second application isconfigured to receive feedback from the second display screen indicatingsecond-side graphic overlay data associated with a particular slidebeing displayed on the second display screen; the third annotationapplication is configured to receive feedback from the third displayscreen indicating third side graphic overlay data associated with aparticular slide being displayed on the third display screen; and thefirst annotation application is configured to receive feedback from thefirst display screen indicating preview slide graphic overlay dataassociated with a particular slide being displayed on the first displayscreen.
 33. The method according to claim 32, further comprising thesteps of: adjusting the right-side video data based on the second sidegraphic overlay data, if any; and adjusting the left-side video databased on the third side graphic overlay data, if any.
 34. The methodaccording to claim 32, further comprising the step of: adjusting thepreview window display based on the preview slide graphic overlay data,if any.
 35. The method according to claim 32, further comprising thestep of: storing any of the second-side graphic overlay data, thepreview slide graphic overlay data, or the third-side graphic overlaydata.
 36. The method according to claim 35, further comprising the stepsof: recalling a particular slide for display; retrieving any storedgraphic overlay data associated with the recalled slide; displaying therecalled slide along with the retrieved graphic overlay data on thepreview screen; and dispatching the recalled slide and retrieved graphicoverlay data to either the third-side or second-side screenindependently of whether the graphic overlay data is center, second-sideor third-side graphic overlay data.
 37. A computer readable mediumbearing instructions for providing an electronic presentation of aplurality of slides using multiple display screens, said instructionsbeing arranged to cause one or more processors upon execution thereof toperform the steps of: providing a presentation control interface on acenter display screen; displaying a slide, from among the plurality ofslides, in a preview window within the presentation control interface;receiving input via the presentation control interface indicatingwhether to direct the slide to a second display screen or a thirddisplay screen such that said first and second display screens differfrom each other as well as differ from said first display screen;dispatching the slide for display on the indicated display screen; andretrieving a next slide for display in the preview window.
 38. Thecomputer readable medium of claim 37, said instructions being furtherarranged to cause one or more processors upon execution thereby toperform the steps of: providing a second annotation applicationassociated with the second display screen which is a touch screendevice; providing a third annotation application associated with thethird display screen which is a touch screen device; and providing afirst annotation application associated with the first display screenwhich is a touch screen device; wherein: the second annotationapplication is configured to receive feedback from the second displayscreen indicating second-side graphic overlay data; the third annotationapplication is configured to receive feedback from the third displayscreen indicating third-side graphic overlay data; and the firstannotation application is configured to receive feedback from the firstdisplay screen indicating preview slide graphic overlay data.
 39. Thecomputer readable medium of claim 38, said instructions being furtherarranged to cause one or more processors upon execution thereof toperform the steps of: adjusting the second-side video data based on thesecond-side graphic overlay data, if any; adjusting the third-side videodata based on the third-side graphic overlay data, if any; and adjustingthe preview window display based on the preview slide graphic overlaydata, if any.